It reminds me of writing I've seen about the French aristocracy of the 18th century right before the Revolution. A Dangerous Liaisons sort of mentality. But you're right about kids. I never had any, and didn't really grow up till I became a teacher and had to deal with other people's children all day. It's been a revelation.

You’re right about the ancien regime analogy. Not all of the aristos were like that, but many of the trendsetters were. And of course, just as today, they could indulge in this pose because they were insulated from reality.

What is most interesting is what happened when the languidly sophisticated and uninvolved aristos ran into people who took things very seriously indeed. The insulation melted and many of the ironists lost their heads.

Serious people will invariably kick the crap out of ironic poseurs.

It is unfortunate that people so often confuse irony with humor. In actual fact I think irony is the deadly enemy of true humor.